#2 Fuel Oil in Lamps?

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Has anyone ever tried to burn #2 oil in an oil lamp?

Most oil lamps I see are for kerosene or some other 'lite' oil. I was wondering if there are lamps capable of safely burning #2.

-- lou (lanny1@ix.netcom.com), July 14, 1999

Answers

From the "Lanterns" page of the

Brightlyte site,

"PETROMAX" lanterns were designed and developed by Adolf & Max Graetz, who were appointed managing directors of their family business (Ehrich & Graetz) in 1889.

From their efforts arose the most powerful & reliable lanterns in the world. Petromax lanterns run on a variety of fuels.. kerosene, alcohol-based fuels, mineral spirits, citronella oil, gasoline, diesel oil, & almost every flammable fuel available on the market.

Since diesel and #2 heating oil are the same, I guess we can say that a Petromax lantern will burn #2 heating oil. I've heard that if you burn bio-diesel, usually made from recycled cooking oil, it smells like french fries.

-- de (delewis@XXinetone.net), July 14, 1999.


lou,

I've never tried in a standard oil lamp but I got a petromax lantern a few months ago. I've burned all sorts of fuels (kerosene, fuel oil, peanut oil and kerosene, lamp oil, denatured alcohol, citronella oil and kerosene, paint thinner, and even 100 proof vodka) in it to see if it performs as advertised. That sucker burns anything.

I haven't had the nerve to try gasoline and probably won't - that makes nervous.

Pumping the lantern up does require a knack. The more I've used it, the easier it gets.

My only complaint is that the critronella/kerosene mixture didn't phase Wisconsin's state bird - the mosquito... (I had read that it was a great way to keep mosquito's at bay - apparently the mosquitos haven't gotten the word - then again maybe I should get a fresh bottle of the citronella oil - the bottle I had was a couple years old..)

On the flip side, if you have an oil furnace with and a tank of #2, you can use kerosene in it instead. If you want to go that route, ca your oil dealer and see what terms he offers on a pumpout of the #2 and refill with clear kerosene. I know folks with outside fuel tanks here in northern climate who regularly get kerosene instead of #2. My furnace guy said I could switch but that the burner will required adjustment because they burn differently.

Good Luck, jh

-- john hebert (jt_hebert@hotmail.com), July 14, 1999.


Lou: I've used fuel oil/diesel in lanterns on occasion. You have to be prepared for a smokier, more yellow flame than you get with kerosene/ lamp oil. In the past, I've tried to avoid using it inside -- it's fine for fuel in a railroad lantern you're hanging on the porch or carrying on a walk to the neighbor's house, though.

-- Jack (Jack@mainer.coast), July 14, 1999.

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